Month: August 2011

The historic ensemble of San Cristóbal de La Laguna has outstanding universal value is an urban design that represents the concept of the ‘town-territory’ as the first example of an unfortified town laid out and built according to a complete plan based on navigation, the science of the time, and as the organized space of a new peaceful social order inspired by the millenary religious concepts of the year 1500. As the first non-fortified Spanish colonial town, its layout was the model for many colonial towns in the Americas.

San Cristóbal was founded in 1497 by Alonso Fernández de Lugo. The last town to be established in the Canary Islands takes its name from a shallow lake or marshy area (La Laguna), drained in 1837. The original settlers, almost all soldiers, were not allocated building plots; the defined non-fortified urban area was considered to be a public space where anyone could build. As a result small houses were erected haphazardly around the church of La Concepción, without any overall plan. In 1502, a regular town plan based on Leonardo da Vinci’s model for Imola was drawn up by the Captain General (Adelantado) for the area. Wide major streets linked the public open spaces and formed the grid on which smaller streets were superimposed. The resulting Lower Town expanded rapidly, attracting the island’s ruling classes and monastic communities began building. A piped water supply was installed at the expense of the Town Council in 1521, and the first public buildings were constructed. However, the political, religious and economic centre was progressively transferred to Santa Cruz, and San Cristóbal declined.

La Laguna is an important city for several reasons. First, it was one of the launching points for Spanish expeditions to the Americas. Second, it was one of the first cities built without walls. Its protection came from the sea and its distance from the shore. Finally, it was an archetype for many Spanish colonials cities which were founded in the New World in terms of layout and architecture.

Overview

San Cristobal de La Laguna, or simply known as La Laguna, is a city in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is located in Tenerife, which is one of the Canary Islands, a territory of Spain. The city of San Cristobal de la Laguna is the third in the archipelago in terms of population. In 1999, the historical center of this city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city of San Cristobal de la Laguna served as the ancient capital of Canary Islands. It is located to the right of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and these two cities are linked via tram. Hence, the two cities are mostly considered as one.

History of San Cristobal de la Laguna

San Cristobal de la Laguna was once overlooked by tourists passing from north or south of the island. From the outside, it looks like an ugly urban sprawl. But if you care to look closer, you will discover a cultural gem that is filled with history.

The layout of the city is one of its most distinctive feature and part of the reasons why San Cristobal de la Laguna was named as a UNESCO site. This layout, along with the streets and the environment, is typical for colonial cities such as Cuba’s Old Havana, Colombia’s Cartagena de Indias, Puerto Rico’s San Juan, and Peru’s Lima. However, only few know that La Laguna is actually the model for these Latin American cities.

By the 18th century, there was a decline in the population and economy of San Cristobal de la Laguna. This was during this time (around 1723) when Santa Cruz de Tenerife was named as the new capital for Tenerife. Ever since then, Santa Cruz has been the capital of this island.

Many of the streets that were known for their historical significance had been closed off from traffic. Aside from these streets, there are also several churches, convents, historic buildings, and old towns in the city that has earned the nickname of “Florence of the Canary Islands”. Meanwhile, there are also tunnels and underground passages that were discovered. This has led the researchers to conclude that the current city of La Laguna has been raised since the ground level is no longer the same from the time of its founding.

Things to See in La Laguna

San Cristobal de la Laguna is best known as the home of the University of La Laguna. This university has over 30,000 students. However, this university is not the only main attraction on this city. Here are some other notable attractions to visit and explore while in San Cristobal de la Laguna:

As you may have noticed, I have a slight fetish about visiting world heritage sites. To date I have visited over 150 of sites and I have made a point of featuring each one I visit as a daily photo. Some of them are incredible and some are……less than incredible.

I’ve had several people ask me what the deal was and why I bother to go out of my way to visit them. If you have traveled even a small amount there is a good chance you have already visit one or more sites without even knowing it. There is also a good chance you’ve been near one and never bothered to take the time to go and visit it.

This post is intended to be a primer for what World Heritage Sites are about, why they exist and why you should consider making them a part of your next trip.

Tárraco (modern-day Tarragona) was a major administrative and mercantile city in Roman Spain and the center of the Imperial cult for all the Iberian provinces. It was endowed with many fine buildings, and parts of these have been revealed in a series of exceptional excavations. Although most of the remains are fragmentary, many preserved beneath more recent buildings, they present a vivid picture of the grandeur of this Roman provincial capital.

The Roman remains of Tárraco are of exceptional importance in the development of Roman urban planning and design and served as the model for provincial capitals elsewhere in the Roman world. Tárraco provides eloquent testimony to a significant stage in the history of the Mediterranean lands in antiquity.

If you drove through the city of Tarragona you might not think it was anything special, even if you saw the Roman ruins in the middle of town. However, this was one the Roman capital of the entire Iberian peninsula. Julius Caesar, Augustus, Pompey, and Hannibal all visited here. As Roman ruins go, Tarraco isn’t the greatest in the world. What is lacks in the spectacular ruins it more than makes up in history. The ruins of Tarraco are an easy one hour drive from Barcelona by car.

Overview

The Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco is a cultural site recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain. It was added into the list in 2000. This archaeological site is located in what is now the modern day Tarragona. This site features archaeological monuments from the first and oldest Roman settlement along the Iberian Peninsula. This was used as base by the Roman conquest that enabled them to conquer the rest of the island’s interior.

The city of Tarragona, which was the site of the Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco, is built on three terraces. The archaeological monuments that were built by the Romans showcase how the earlier conquests adapted to its environment. These monuments were constructed during the 3rd century BC.

About the Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco

There are several components that make up the Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco. The site consists of the following monuments:

Wall of Tarragona: The Wall of Tarragona is one of the sites belonging to the Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco. It is also a Spanish Property of Cultural Interest, which was designated as a non-movable monument in 1884. The Roman Walls are one of the best reminders of the rich Roman heritage in the city.

Provincial Forum of Tarraco: This is another Roman archaeological site in Tarragona. This site encompasses 18 hectares of land area. This forum was built in 73 AD as commissioned by Emperor Vespasian. The forum remained in use until the 5th century. The Provincial Forum of Tarraco consists of many buildings such as the provincial council, state treasure, curia, audience hall, and the temple of the Imperial worship.

The Circus of Tarraco: The Circus of Tarraco is an open air and underground ruins from the Roman Empire in the province of Tarragona. It was built in the 1st century CE circus and tower. This site is a notable entry into the list of Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco because of its architectural achievements but due to its place in the city.

Colonial Forum of Tarraco: The Roman colonial forum in Tarraco is one of the best examples of the Roman heritage in the city.

Roman Theatre of Tarraco: This is a Roman theater that was built in Tarraco during the time of Augustus. The theater was built on a hill wherein the builders took advantage to use the slope to build part of the theater seating. By the 20th century, majority of the theater have been destroyed. However, the three fundamental parts of the Roman Theater has remained intact.

Tarragona Ampitheater: This amphitheater was built on the former Roman city of Tarragona. The amphitheater is one of the most important monuments that consist the Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco recognized by UNESCO. This amphitheater was built in the 2nd century AD and is located close to the Roman forums in the city.

Les Ferreres Aqueduct: The Les Ferreres Aqueduct is an ancient bridge that forms part of the Roman aqueduct that was built to supply water to Tarraco. This site is also known as Pont del Diable. This part of the aqueduct is made up of two levels of arches: the upper and lower section.

Arc de Bera: This triumphal arch was built following the result of the will of Lucius Licinius Sura. This arch was erected during the time of Augustus’ reign in 13 BCE.

The other monuments that are included in the Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco are as follows: Roman Villa of Centcelles, Ville dels Munts, Torre dels Escipions, and Early Christian cemetery.

The churches of the Vall de Boí are an especially pure and consistent example of Romanesque art in a virtually untouched rural setting. The group of churches is a remarkable example of an important constructional style in human history, like that of Romanesque art, to which it contributes characteristics that are appropriate to both its religious and its secular aspects. The Vall de Boí illustrates the continuous occupation of an area of land. The churches that were built in the Middle Ages at the instigation of a single family symbolize the affirmation and geographical settlement at the time historical Catalonia was created.

The Vall de Boí is screened by the high peaks of the Beciberri/Punta Alta massif, in the high Pyrenees. Its scenery is one of woodland and meadows, adjoining and surrounding the small villages. The Arab invasion of the Iberian Peninsula never penetrated the valleys, but they were exposed around the beginning of the 2nd millennium to cultural influences, brought there by merchants, by itinerant monks and by Christian pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela. In the 11th century, new cultural styles were brought into Catalonia from Italy, particularly Lombardy. This new cultural movement was late in reaching the remote Vall de Boí. The exceptional number of Romanesque churches in the valley is attributed to the fact that large quantities of silver came into the region.

The Vall de Boi isn’t hard to get to but you do have to go out of your way to get there. This site is a collection of 10 12-13th Century churches which reside in the small villages of the Vall de Boi. The churches, like many in the Catalonian region, are of a Romanesque design. In fact, I saw many churches throughout the Catalonian Pyrenees which were very similar in style and age to the churches found in the Vall de Boi. Beyond their architecture, what makes many of the churches special are the frescos which can be found inside. Most of the frescos have undergone or are undergoing renovation. If you visit the Vall de Boi, take the time to visit Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. It is a beautiful Pyrenees park easy driving distance from the Churches.

Overview

The Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Spain. It is a cultural site and religious structure that was added by UNESCO in 2000. This heritage site comprises nine early Romanesque churches that are all located in Vall de Boi. The nine Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí in question are as follows:

Eglésia de Sant Feliu, Barruera

Eglésia de Sant Joan de Boí, Boí

Eglésia de Santa Maria, Taüll

Eglésia de Sant Climent, Taüll

Eglésia de Santa Maria de l’Assumpció, Coll

Eglésia de Santa Maria, Cardet

Eglésia de la Nativitat, Durro

Ermitage de Sant Quirc, Durro

Eglésia de Santa Eulàlia, Erill la Vall

These Romanesque churches are set against the beautiful Pyrenees Mountains in Spain. Furthermore, they were built during the 12th century.

Eglésia de Sant Feliu, Barruera

This Roman Catholic Church is one of the 9 Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí. There are no definitive records that will indicate exactly when this church was built although the experts assume it was in the 11th century. The original plan for this church was similar with the other Catalan Romanesque churches but this one did not follow that construction plan. It is known for its unique nave that covers a barrel vault. Inside the church, there is a triumphal arc dedicated for the choir.

Eglésia de Sant Joan de Boí, Boí

This is another Romanesque church located in the province of Lleida in Catalonia, Spain. It features the largest collection of architectural elements retained by this church from the time that it was constructed in the 11th century. This church is also located at the entrance to the village of Boi.

Eglésia de Santa Maria, Taüll

This church from the collection of Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí is located at a commune in the valley of Boi. The architectural elements found in Eglesia de Santa Maria, Taull are typical of a Catalan Romanesque Church such as chevet, apse, left apse, nave, and reredos. There are also several wall paintings all throughout the secular building. The famous paintings include that of Gaspard and Baltazar, Apostles, Melchior, and the Adoration of the Magi and Mary at the central apse.

Eglésia de Sant Climent, Taüll

The Church of St. Clement of Tahull is a Roman Catholic Church that features the Romanesque architectural style along with Romanesque art. This church officially opened in 1123 and was consecrated by the Bishop of Roda-Barbastro in Vall de Boi. Aside from its use of Romanesque architectural style, it also takes influences from Byzantine and Lombard styles.

Eglésia de Santa Maria de l’Assumpció, Coll

This is also known as the church of Assumption, which is one of the nine Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí. This church is known for its single nave with barrel vault and square bell tower. The church is also made with two floors and the second floor is made for holding the bells. This church was built in the 13th century.

Eglésia de Santa Maria, Cardet

The Church of Santa Maria, Cardet is located on the slope. For this reason, the apse of this church is located at a higher level as compared to the central nave. The church is made of small dimensions.

Eglésia de la Nativitat, Durro

The Eglésia de la Nativitat, Durro is located at high altitude, up to 1,386 meters. The exact location of the church is in the town of Durres. The initial documentation of the church is in the 11th century; hence, the experts are the ones suggest that it was also built during the same time.

Ermitage de Sant Quirc, Durro

Second to the last in this list of Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí is the Ermitage de Sant Quirc, Durro. It is a small hermitage church with simple architecture. The church’s nave is built with a barrel vault and features a presbytery. The entrance door to this church also features arches with voussoirs. It lacks the large windows you will normally find in churches; in fact, it only comes with a porthole and small openings on the western façade.

Eglésia de Santa Eulàlia, Erill la Vall

In 1962, the Eglésia de Santa Eulàlia, Erill la Vall was recognized as an artistic and historic monument in Spain. The building is known for its single nave and semicircular apse. Meanwhile, the exterior side features a portico with cylindrical columns. Finally, it features a bell tower that comprises six stories with a height of 23 meters.

I am reviving a new feature this week where I feature other notable trips and travelers on Sundays. Today’s featured trip is from Anil Polat who blogs at Foxnomad.com. Anil is from Turkey and has been traveling around the world for several years. I met him this year in Valencia, Spain during the European Gran Prix. I remembered reading on his blog about a trip he took to Iraq and thought it was fascinating and asked him if he’d be willing to share his story with my readers. All photos in this post are from Anil.

The cultural landscape of Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley offers a microcosmic perspective of the way people have harvested the resources of the high Pyrenees over millennia. Its dramatic glacial landscapes of craggy cliffs and glaciers, with high open pastures and steep wooded valleys, covers an area of 4,247 ha, 9% of the total area of the principality. It reflects past changes in climate, economic fortune and social systems, as well as the persistence of pastoralism and a strong mountain culture, notably the survival of a communal land-ownership system dating back to the 13th century. The site features houses, notably summer settlements, terraced fields, stone tracks and evidence of iron smelting.

The Madriu Valley in Andorra is a beautiful and preserved region of one of the smallest countries in the world. Despite the size of Andorra, the Valley is large enough for a full day of hiking with the option of overnight staying in the mountains. The valley is still used for grazing by local farmers. If you do get a chance to visit Andorra take the time to go up into the valleys. The country may be small, but not so small as to preclude a wilderness experience.

Overview

The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site listed from Andorra. It is a cultural site that was inscribed into the list in 2004. In 2006, there were extensions added to the original site. This glacial valley is located in the southeastern portion of Andorra with a total area of over 42 square kilometers. This portion of the valley comprises about 9% of the total land area in the country of Andorra. It was recognized by UNESCO because it is a rare habitat for endangered wildlife species. At the same time, majority of the valley is underdeveloped, which means that many of the cultural traditions that transpired in the valley for many centuries have remained intact.

About Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley is a glacial landscape consisting of craggy cliffs, wooded valleys, and high pastures. On three corners of the valley (on the eastern, western and southern side), it is surrounded by mountain ridges. On the northern side, there is an escarpment that connects this valley to another valley: Valira Valley.

The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley is isolated from the rest of the country. In fact, it is so isolated that there are no roads that lead to this valley. Instead, there are only foot tracks that are accessible only via foot.

In the summer time, the high pastures in Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley are grazed by horses, sheeps, and cows. This land is owned on a communal basis, as it did during the Middle Ages. The shepherds of these animals stay in stone huts in the borders in order to oversee these animals. Aside from these animals that graze the valley, there are several animal species that inhabit the region such as roe deer, foxes, marmots, pine martens, squirrels, wild boars, mouflons, and charmois.

Cultural Importance

Aside from the natural beauty and well-preserved natural landscape in Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, it is also known for its cultural value. Today, the valley is filled with various structures such as dwellings, tracks, field terraces, and remains of the ironworking industry in the area. The success of the ironworking industry in this region demonstrates how the locals utilized the resources available within the Pyrenees Mountains for more than 700 years. At the same time, it is also a testament to the quality of the ironworks in the region for these structures to remain intact for such a long time despite the social structures, climate and other factors.

There are two kinds of settlements within the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley: Entremesaigues and Ramio. These two settlements are located at the narrow valley floor. These settlements were available year round until 50 years ago. Since then, these settlements were only occupied during the summer time. These houses were made out of local granite and had schist roofs. There is also a large barn attached to each house for storage purposes. Most of the items stored are hay and grain. These houses and other parts of the settlement are the only privately owned properties that are encompassed by this UNESCO site.

Santa María of Poblet presents a unique blend of architectural forms generally reserved for distinct applications. It has served as one of the largest and most complete of the Cistercian abbeys, as a massive military complex, and as a royal palace, residence, and pantheon. It is a unique artistic achievement and one of the most perfect expressions of Cistercian style in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. The abbey contains masterpieces from every period such as the great alabaster retablo by Damian Forment (1529).

Poblet presents a unique blend of architectural forms. First and foremost, it is a Cistercian abbey, one of the largest and most complete that exists. North of the church, laid out in the usual way, is a group of monastic buildings that include the great cloister with its fountain, chapter room, monk’s dormitory, parlor and its annex, closed cloister, monk’s room which is now a library, calefactory, refectory and kitchens.

The Poblet Monastery is an easy day trip from Barcelona. Total driving time is about 90 minutes depending on traffic. There are tours offered throughout the day in the monastery but they are only in Catalan and Spanish. There are small guidebooks available in English and German. The Monastery is a working monastery and you will see monks walking around the premises.

Overview

The Poblet Monastery is a Cistercian monastery located in Vimbodi I Poblet within the province of Catalonia in Spain. This monastery, officially known as Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet, was founded in 1151. The monastery was built on the foot of Prades Mountains in Catalonia, Spain. It was the Cistercian monks from France who founded this monastery and architect Arnau Bargues is the one responsible for its design. The monastery features a Catalan Gothic architectural style.

The Poblet Monastery is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain under the Cultural category. It was inscribed into the list in 1991. It is also among those sites listed under the Spanish Property of Cultural Interest.

About Poblet Monastery

The Poblet Monastery is one of the most significant historical and religious sites in all of Spain. In fact, there was a time when it was considered as Spain’s most powerful monastery. It forms one-third of a Cistercian triangle, which consists of two other monasteries: Monastery of Santes Creus and Monastery of Vallbona de les Monges.

Since its founding in 1151, there have been many royals that were buried at the site. Over the years, it also gained wealth until issues of corruption and accusations of it being a lewder resulted in the locals hating it. Eventually, it was burnt and underwent extreme damage by 1835. It was a hundred years later when work for reconstruction was done on the monastery. The monks moved back into the monastery in 1940.

Majority of the building’s original design and layout were kept intact during the restoration work. The monastery is surrounded by fortified walls. Inside these walls, there are the Abbey Church, royal tombs, Chapterhouse, dormitory, library, and the various cloisters. The dining hall is also one of the most photographed parts of the monastery. It is distinguished by its large arched windows, wooden pews and tables, and the well-polished wooden floor.

The cloister is also another highlight within the Poblet Monastery. The cloisters feature huge arched openings that look out into an open, grassy space. Therefore, the overall design and architecture of the monastery reflect the styles from the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries.

Burials in Poblet Monastery

The Poblet Monastery also has its own burial ground/site. In fact, there are kings and queens of Aragon that had been buried at this site. Some of them are:

This is an overview of my year of traveling with an iPad. I’ve taken it overseas, used it on road trips, navigated with it on city streets and used it on the beach as well as in the mountains. I’ve probably done as much as anyone has in terms of traveling with this device since it was launched in 2010.

Over the last few months I’ve been seeing a lot of other travelers with iPads. I’ve been rather surprised at how quickly they have become popular. They seem to have overtaken netbooks with the travelers I see in hotels and hostels. My guess is that over the next 5 years tablets and the iPad in particular will become the primary computing device travelers use, at least for short term trips. They are lightweight, cheap and are capable of mobile internet in a large part of the world.

I’m well aware that this “review” is really late to the game as the iPad has been out for a while and is already on its second generation. Nonetheless, I’ve had many people ask me if they should take their iPad with them on trips of if they should buy one for an extended around the world trip.

I have owned both an original iPad as well as an iPad2. My original iPad was a 3G GSM and my iPad2 is a 3G CDMA model. The only accessory I have purchased for either model was a case: a rubber covering for the original and the smart cover for the iPad2. I have not used a keyboard with either iPad and have also been traveling with an iPhone and MacBook Pro as well.Continue reading “A Year Traveling With the iPad”